Shoe-stretcher.



D. P. ROWLAND. SHOE STRTCHER.l

v l APPLICATION FILED MAI 4, 1910. 9?9,?05 Patented Dee. 27, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SEHEN Z6 l 1 m1111111uuulniunllllll D. P. ROWLAND.

SHOE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAM. 1910.

9?9,705, Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNFL@ @TAT FAFN @FFfQFa DEMAS '.P. BOWLAND, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

SHOE-STRETCI-IER.

ovarios.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that 1, DEMAS P. RowLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Chio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for stretching boots and shoes, re shaping the toe portions of the same, and stretching and enlarging different portions of the upper' for relieving the pressure of the same on corns, bunions and deformities of the feet.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple and practical stretching device of this character which may be adapted for use in a shoe or bootof any size and shape, and by means of which the shoe may be quickly and effectively stretched endwise.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means whereby the toe portions of shoes or boots may be restored to their original shape and different portions of the uppers may be stretched to a greater extent than other portions of the same.

1With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which z- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the invention, a shoe being indicated in dotted lines. parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the front section of the stretcher. F 5 and 6 are detail views of the adjustable device for stretching the upper to accommodate bunions and corns. Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views of a one-piece toe-stretching member. F ig. 9 is a detail view of a modified form of base plate.

The invention comprises a base plate or block l which is preferably of the outline of the sole of a shoe and larger than the largest size shoe. rlhis plate l may be made of metal, wood, or other material, and if desired it may have a slightly dished or concave upper face. At its front or toe end is a stop 2 preferably in the form of a cushion composed of a strip or block of rubber which Specification of Letters atent.

Application filed May 4, 1910.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the Patented Dec. 27, 1910. Serial No. 559,340.

may be held in place beneath an upwardly and inwardly turned tongue 3 formed integral with and at the center of the toe end of the plate 1 as shown in Figs. l and 3. 1f desired, the stop 2 may be secured by a small plate 3a which is fastened by screws 3b, as shown in F ig. 9.

land 5 denote two stretcher sections which are adapted to be placed in a shoe to be stretched and which are adjustably connected in any suitable manner, a screw 6 being preferably employed. rllhe rear section 5 of the stretcher has a downwardly and forwardly inclined opening to receive the screw 6, and in said section is fixed a stationary nut 7 through which the screw works. The outer' or rear end of the screw is provided with a suitable cross piece or handle 8, and the forward or inner end of said screw is swiveled as shown at 9 in a metal plate 10 screwed or otherwise secured to the inclined rear face of the front stretcher section 4.

The rear section 5 of the stretcher is adapted to be anchored to the base 1 by a iiexible connection 11 which may consist of one or more chains that extend from the sides of the intermediate portion of the base and around thc upper rear portion of the stretcher section 5, a rearwardly projecting anchoring pin 12 being provided on said section 5 for engagement by the chain or chains. As illustrated, l prefer to employ a single chain, the intermediate portion of which extends transversely across the bottom of the base plate 1 and engages lateral projections 13 which are preferably formed integral with the base, although they may be otherwise constructed and arranged. 1 also preferably secure said interinediate portion of the chain to the bottom of the base plate 1 by means of rivets or other fastenings l/l. r)The two end portions of the chain are brought upwardly and rearwardly around the rear stretcher section 5 and are adjustably fastened to the latter by engaging any of their links with the anchoring pin 12.

In order to stretch and reshape shoes of different sizes and shapes, 1 provide a plurality of different stretching and shaping forms for use in connection with the front section l of the stretcher.

In Figs. 1 and 2 have shown an adjustable stretchingl and shaping device which is indicated by the numeral 15, and which consists of a main section and two adjustable side sections 16, the latter being adapted to support corn or bunion stretchers 17. The member 15 is substantially V-shaped and is adapted to be arranged in a transverse recess 18 formed in the front upper portion of the front stretcher section 4, said member being retained in position in said recess by an upright pin 19 rising from the inclined bottom lof the recess and adapted to enter a notch or recess 2O formed in said member 15. The member 15 is formed on its top on opposite sides with forwardly converging grooves 21 which pro-vide outwardly projecting side flanges 22 adapted to support the side sections 16. These sections or parts 16 have their inner faces grooved as shown at 23 to receive and slide on the flanges 22, and they are adapted to be guided in their sliding movement and clamped in adjusted position by screws 24 passed upwardly through longitudinal slots 25 formed in the tianges 22, the heads of said screws 24 being countersunk in enlarged portions 26 of the grooves 25, whereby shoulders are formed against which the heads of the screws bear. when the latter are tightened to clamp the sect-ions or par-ts 16 in adjusted position. The outer faces of the sections 16 are curved or co-nvex and have formed in them a plurality of sockets 27, any one of which may receive a retaining pin or stud 2S formed on one of the bunion or corn stretchers 17.

It will be understood that one or more of the stretchers 17 may be applied to each of the side sections 16 and at different points thereon, according to the location of the part of the shoe upper it is desired to stretch to relieve pressure on a bunion, corn or the like, and it will be noted that by reason of the slot and pin connection between the side sections 16 and the central section 15, and also because of the V-shape of said central section, that said side sections 16 may be positioned closer to or farther from each other, according to the size and shape of the shoe or boot to be stretched ln lieu of the adjustable stretching member or section 15 I may use a one-piece toestretching and reshaping member which I have indicated at 29 in Figs. 7 and S. This toe piece 29 has a fiat bot-tom formed with a socket or recess 80 to receive the retaining pin 19, and its top may be of any'shape, according to the shape of the toe of the boot or shoe to be stretched and reshaped. It will be understood that any number of dierent kinds of toe pieces 29 may be supplied with each of the stretching devices so as to adapt the invention for use in shoes or boots of all sizes and shapes.

The use of the invention will be readily understood on reference to Fig. 1, in which I have indicated a shoe in dotted lines. It

will be noted that the sole of the shoe is placed on the base 1 with the Jtoe portion of the shoe sole against the stop or cushion 2. rI`he two sections of the structure are then placed within the shoe and the ends of the chain 11 are brought around the rear section 5 of the structure and engaged with the pin 12. r1`he handle 8 may then be turned to rotate the screw in a direction to move the inner or forward stretcher section 4 away from the rear anchored stretcher section 5. Then this is done the toe portion of the shoe and the upper will be stretched and reshaped. It will be understood that before the stretcher sections are inserted in the shoe the proper toe pieces or bunion and corn stretchers are applied to the section 4.

F rom the foregoing it will be seen that my invention provides an exceedingly simple and practical device of this character which will enable all kinds and sizes of boots and shoes to be quickly and effectively stretched and reshaped.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A stretching device of the character described comprising a base to receive the sole of a shoe and carrying a stop for the toe portion of the sole, a two-part stretcher to enter the shoe, means for forcing the front and rear parts of the stretcher away from each other, and a iiexible member engaged with the base and the rear part of the stretcher.

2. A stretching device of the character described comprising a base to receive the sole of a shoe and carrying a stop for the toe portion of the sole, a two-part stretcher to enter, the shoe, means for forcing the front and rear parts of the stretcher away from each other, and an adjustable connection between the rear part of the stretcher and said base.

3. A stretching device of the character described comprising a base to receive the sole of a shoe and carrying a stop for the toe portion of the sole, a two-part stretcher to enter the shoe, means for forcing the front and rear parts of the stretcher away from each other, a pin upon the rear part of the stretcher, and chains extending from opposite sides of the base and having their links enga-ged with said pin, whereby the base and rear section of the stretcher are adjustably connected.

4. A stretching device of the character described comprising a base to receive the sole of a shoe and carrying a stop for the toe portion of the sole, a two-part stretcher to enter the shoe, means for forcing the front and rear parts of the stretcher away from each other, lateral projections on the base, a chain passed across the base and engaged with said projections, and chain-engaging means on the rear section of the stretcher.

5. A stretching' device of the character described comprising a base to receive the sole of a shoe and carrying a stop for the toe portion of the sole, a two-part stretcher to enter the shoe, means for forcing the front and rear parts of the stretcher away from each other, an elastic member forming a part of said stop to protect the toe portion of the sole of the shoe, and means connecting said base to the rear part of the stretcher.

6. A stretching device of the character described comprising a base to receive the sole of a shoe and carrying a stop for the toe portion of the sole, a two-part stretcher to enter the shoe, means for forcing the front and rear parts of the stretcher away from each other, means connectingthe rear part of the stretcher to the base, a member arranged on the front part of the stretcher' and provided with forwardly, converging guides, and side stretcher sections adjustably mounted in said guides.

7 A stretching device of the character described comprising a base to receive the sole of a shoe and carrying a stop for the toe portion of the sole, a two-part stretcher to enter the shoe, means for forcing the front and rear parts of the stretcher away from each other, means connecting the rear part of the stretcher to the hase, a member mounted on the front part of the stretcher and provided with forwardly converging guides, adjustable side stretcher sections slidably engaged with ,said guides and provided with a plurality of sockets, and a bunion or corn stretcher having a pin to enter one of said sockets.

8. A stretching device of the character described comprising a base to receive the sole of a shoe and provided with a stop for the toe portion of the sole, a two-part stretcher to enter the shoe, a nut carried by one part of the stretcher, a screw arranged in said nut and having a swivel connection with the other part of the stretcher, a handle at the rear end of said screw, a pin on the rear part of the stretcher, lateral projections on the base, and a chain passed across the base and engaged with said lateral projections and with said pin.

S). A stretching device of the character described comprising in combination a twopart stretcher to enter a shoe, means for forcing the front and rear parts of the stretcher away from each other, an anchor'- ing means for the rear part of the stretcher, side stretcher sections carried by the front part of the stretcher and mounted for sliding movement. in forwardly converging planes, and means for retaining said side stretcher sections in adjusted position.

10. A stretching device of the character described comprising in combination a twopart stretcher to enter a shoe, means for forcing the front and rear parts of the stretcher away from each other, an anchoring means for the rear part of the stretcher, a member carried by said front part of the stretcher and provided with forwardly converging guides, side stretcher sections engaged with said guides, and means for clamping said side stretcher sections in adjusted position.

ll. A stretching device of the character described comprising in combination a twopart stretcher to enter a shoe, means for forcing the front and rear parts of the stretcher away from each other, an anchoring means for the rear part of the stretcher, a V-shaped member carried by the front part of the stretcher and grooved to form side flanges, the latter having longitudinal slots, side stretcher sections grooved to engage saidflanges, and screws passed through the slots in said lianges to clamp the side stretcher sections in adjusted position on the latter.

12. A stretching device of the character described comprising in combination a twopart stretcher to enter a shoe, means for forcing' the front and rear parts of the stretcher away from each other, an anchoring means for the rear part of the stretcher, a V-shaped member carried by the front part of the stretcher and grooved to form side flanges, the latter having longitudinal slots, side stretcher sections grooved to engage said fianges, screws passed through the slots in said flanges to clamp the side stretcher sections in adjusted position on the latter, said side stretcher sections having curved outer faces formed with a plurality of sockets, and corn or bunion stretchers having pins to enter said sockets.

ln testimony whereof I hereunto atiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DEMAS I. ROVLAND. lVitnesses Cin-rs. W. CRAIG, THOMAS H. KELLEY. 

